Family Support Specialist

Location and Job Title: After School Support Specialist Educational Alliance 197 E Broadway New York, NY 10002 Principal Responsibilities: Salary- $20/hour Educational Alliance, a 136-year-old New York institution, is a vibrant, dynamic organization serving New Yorkers from all walks of life. We serve everyone regardless of the language they speak, where they come from, or their socioeconomic status. We believe that everyone should have a chance to live a better life and that arts and culture, education, health and wellness, and social services can help lay that foundation. The 14Y After School Program engages hands, heads, and hearts for children in K-5th grade attending schools across the East Village. After School is a neurodiverse community, and all staff members are responsible for supporting neurodivergent and neurotypical students to have a successful after school day. We are seeking part-time After School Support Specialists who will be directly responsible for the well-being of all after schoolers at the 14th Street Y After School Program. Support Specialists are enthusiastic, highly motivated, creative, and responsible role models, with a special eye towards those with additional social/emotional/behavioral/mental health needs, including diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mood or anxiety disorders, sensory processing issues, etc. RESPONSIBILITIES Attend all days of staff orientation before After School (weeknights) Attend all days of After-School and monthly staff meetings during the year (After School runs from September 14th, 2026, through June 4th, 2027) Learn about assigned after-schoolers who need additional support and help carry out their plan for success throughout the summer On Mondays or Fridays Swim periods, assist campers who require additional support in the pool (this includes assisting swim instructors, repeating instructions & expectations, redirecting unsafe or disruptive behaviors, etc.) Communicate regularly with Support Coordinator about the campers' progress and challenges, and with AFS Program Manager about daily schedule and responsibilities Work harmoniously with Group Leaders to support after-schoolers Must adhere to agency and site-specific safety standards Comply with city and departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures Maintain standards of AFS conduct, behavior management protocols and inclusion, which includes using restorative approach to address after-schooler(s) conflicts When working with after-schoolers and fellow staff, uphold and implement our values (Growth, Empathy, Wonder, Spirit, Community-Mindedness, Kindness, and Gratitude) After-School Activities Assume responsibility for the physical and mental health and safety of all after-schoolers Actively participate in all enrichment classes & activities Provide quality supervision at all times (e.g. during school pick-up, in assigned homeroom, during snack, throughout activities and all transitional periods) If needed, Assist Group Leaders with pick-ups Encourage all children to do their best & be their on-site daily support system Focus on social dynamics & friendship building Be a supportive partner for children with additional support needs to anticipate/identify when they might need additional support, and proactively engage them using supportive strategies from a strengths-based perspective Build rapport with families and caregivers during dismissal, and provide contextual daily updates if needed Provide weekly progress updates to Support Coordinator Minimum Qualifications: QUALIFICATIONS Availability to attend all days of After-School (September 14th, 2026 - June 4th, 2027) is required Currently pursuing an education in Social Work, Special Education, or any related fields, Bachelor's Degree a plus Demonstrated interest and experience in working with children who are neurodivergent, or have other additional social/emotional/behavioral/mental health needs Patience and willingness to learn about different disabilities or atypical support needs and ways to support children who might need additional support Willingness to learn about and participate in Jewish culture and traditions Friendly, warm, active and genuinely enjoys working in a childcare setting Excellent communication skills Collaborative, flexible, with the ability to work in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment Previous experience working with children from diverse cultural and social backgrounds Salary: $20/hour Agency Information: A nonprofit beacon of hope for over 130 years, as a historically Jewish organization Educational Alliance believes in the power of communities to lift up people of all ages and turn strangers into neighbors. We offer high-quality, affordable education programs, health services, and diverse cultural enrichment right where New Yorkers live and raise their families. We make the city a brighter, friendlier and more supportive place. Our community centers offer multi-generational programs that push boundaries and break barriers, sharing critical tools to foster relationships and advance the well-being of people in New York City. Our pioneering educational programs--like 2Generation Head Start, and courses ranging from art to fitness, career readiness to citizenship--are carefully curated and developed with our city's residents in mind. We offer dozens of options and we never stop innovating to help people of all ages grow, connect, and engage. Guided by Jewish values, Educational Alliance celebrates the differences and individuality every person brings when they walk through our doors because we know that there is more that connects us than keeps us divided. Today, our reach extends beyond the city as our innovative programs serve as models for other organizations to adopt and implement in their communities. We invite you to join us as we partner with our neighbors, strengthen our city, and pave the way for more generations of New Yorkers to live enriched and fulfilling lives - because you belong here. #J-18808-Ljbffr